ORIGINAL: cappaj1
No, I'm not having a problem with my current batteries. I would be willing to spend the amount I mentioned if I could go without charging for multiple days, even weeks.
Why charge a battery when it doesn't need it just because it's a new day of flying? The guy I mentioned is definetely not a fool. He's one of the most careful fliers at our field. He checks his batteries before every flight. And does a radio check from distances you wouldn't believe. He does tend to go for the top of the line in everything he does. Of course he has larger planes too. To each his own. If he suggested the lithium ions, I respect his opinion.
Didn't mean to come off that way. I do disagree on the charging though. Even if the useable battery capacity was so high and the self discharge rate so low that you could fly for days without recharging, why chance it? Why not start each day at 100%? I view RC planes as not much different than full scale planes. Any risk that can be minimized or prevented before flying should be. Charging takes almost no effort so I figure why not do it? That's just my approach to the hobby. I've seen a lot of planes crashed and the pilot then saying "I thought it was good enough".
ORIGINAL Campgems
Chuck, don't you have to regulate them. 7.2 nominal may be to much for the servos and receiver. I don't know what the fully charged voltage will be. I've been looking at them also. I've got a 33% that has batteries in it, but I'm not sure what they are, I just got the plane and haven't stripped it yet. I know that there is at least three packs in it. 'll probably put in a distribution setup with a regulator, of some kind.
I'm not sure on the A-123's. I haven't gotten too far in my research yet. Ithink a 2-cell has a nominal voltage of 6.6V but Imight be wrong. It's a "one of these day's I'm gonna learn more and try it" type of thing.